Using a Vodem SIM in a Parallel Import Phone

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Axeman

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#19799 2-Mar-2008 09:56

Hi all - my first post :)
I bought a TYTN2 from eBay a while back and went through a lot of pain trying to get it to work on a Pre-Pay. I never succeeded fully after weeks of tweaking proxies/adresses etc. It was a very frustrating time I only extreme will power stopped the TYTN being ceremoniously thrown into the sea.

Last chance - I decided to "go for it" and get a data plan, and went for the Vodem so if the SIM didn't work in the TYTN2 I could use the Vodem as a modem and the TYTN would be relegated to voice phone/door stop.

I asked Vodafone to apply a voice plan to the Vodem, so I could swap the SIM between Vodem and TYTN. They replied that;-
They cannot add a voice plan to a data plan, but
The can add a data plan to a voice plan.

As an aside, I currently have a PrePay, and PrePay numbers cannot be transferred to On Account numbers.

So to get what I wanted initially - Voice and Data oplans on my TYTN - would mean getting a new On Account Phone number (and notifying 300 people of it), adding a data plan, and missing out on the Vodem.

How about that for screwing you down. Bugger * 10.

I decided to get just get the 3Gig Vodem Data plan only, and keep my old Prepay SIM on an old phone for now.

I plugged the Vodem SIM into the TYTN, ran the network wizard, changed the network address from www.vodafone.co.nz to www.vodafone.net.nz rebooted and shebang it worked perfectly.

Well I'm totally blown away with the TYTN now - FANTASTIC - Internet anywhere, plug into any computer and it's a modem in 5 seconds flat (much better than farting around with the Vodem software) - awesome and I wonder how I survived on this planet before having a broadband plan and a TYTN :)

OK that's the background...! here's the question.....

When I plugged the Data only Vodem SIM into the TYTN, it's got a voice plan attached! I can TXT to/from it and can ring from it. It's a real new number
Before I rush down to Vodafone to tell them they have stuffed up and added a Voice Plan by mistake I thought I had better check here first.... does anyone know if this is correct and I will be billed separately for voice? I can't see anything in Terms & Conditions. What makes me think this is that the Vodem software comes with a TXTing option - which I thought strange as it would need a real phone number for just that.

Cheers!

johnr

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#114062 2-Mar-2008 10:19

If you make voice calls from the sim yes you will be billed you are using a service.

Axeman

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#114064 2-Mar-2008 10:25

Thanks for the quick reply.

But - what service will I be billed for? I didn't sign up for a voice plan, only a data plan - I didn't get a pack with phone number/conditions - just a data pack/data plan. AND they initially told me i cannot add a voice plan to a data plan on the Vodem - this was verified by the area rep.

I guess I will wait for my first bill then trot down to Vodafone to clarify.

freitasm

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#114066 2-Mar-2008 10:28

No, it is not a "voice plan attached". It is "voice capable".

You will be charged at casual voice rate, which IIRC is NZ$20 per minute.

The only "casual voice plan" I can find is the BlackBerry at NZ$0.79 per minute. No reference for the other casual voice plans.

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johnr

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#114067 2-Mar-2008 10:29

I have sent you a PM send me a email and i will get you in the right direction before you get your bill. John

Axeman

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#114068 2-Mar-2008 10:31

Cool. Thanks for that.

cokemaster

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#114078 2-Mar-2008 11:16

freitasm:
You will be charged at casual voice rate, which IIRC is NZ$20 per minute.

At that price, they better provide rip out that copper/fiber and use gold cabling on the backhaul....

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johnr

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#114104 2-Mar-2008 13:51

cokemaster:
freitasm:
You will be charged at casual voice rate, which IIRC is NZ$20 per minute.

At that price, they better provide rip out that copper/fiber and use gold cabling on the backhaul....

I thought we did?? (jokes)

Axeman

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Wannabe Geek

#114613 4-Mar-2008 17:04

FYI
The cost of a normal voice call from a Vodem Data SIM (with a data plan only) when used in a normal phone is 79c a minute. This was tested today and the billing checked. This call was made to a Vodafone Prepay number.

Thanks Johnr for you fantastic help above and way beyond the call of duty!

cafeg

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#116964 16-Mar-2008 18:10

Axeman:
FYI
The cost of a normal voice call from a Vodem Data SIM (with a data plan only) when used in a normal phone is 79c a minute. This was tested today and the billing checked. This call was made to a Vodafone Prepay number.

Thanks Johnr for you fantastic help above and way beyond the call of duty!

Thats interesting..
Can people call you on the vodem number or can you only ring out ?
I also thought that they could only do data or TXT and voice calls were blocked which is why I've been hanging out here for prepay data plans ..

I have an I-mate Jasjam with WM6 (same as the tytn) and its great ! I found out just how much easier it made things when I was overseas on unlimited prepay data plans - email, email photo attachments on the fly, web browsing etc was a breeze, even over GPRS anywhere I had a mobile phone signal and being on an unlimited data/time plans or network time connected based only plans meant one price per month with no surprises..

It makes you realise how limited mobile internet gets when you start getting charged for mobile data again when back in NZ, I don't do any of the things I did overseas with my JasJam now apart from limited email

Steve..

cafeg

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#116982 16-Mar-2008 19:23

It was Thailand that I was talking about where there is unlimited mobile prepay internet..
With connections to DTAC or AIS and plans like the ones on the page below..

http://www.jabchai.com/axen/index_e.htm

Exchange rate is 25 Thai baht to every NZ$ so 999Baht is around $40NZD a month

They are great and allows anyone to use the mobile internet as you want to and should do without worrying
about huge data bills coming in monthly ..

Steve..

Axeman

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#117058 17-Mar-2008 07:05

Yes I was told it was only a data SIM at first. In fact I was told a number of porkie pies by sales staff in shops who did not seem to understand and (more annoyingly) did not make any efforts to find out.

Yes you can use the Vodem SIM in a normal phone, yes you can make calls out as well as receive voice calls and you TXT as per normal. You get billed with the Data plan and from my enquiries (and help from JohnR) the calls are 79c and TXT 20c. I think this is the same as a Prepay - so in other words it's like having a prepay but it's a POSTpay!

You may want to try and get the number changed - my default one was a horrendous long number but it was changed to a shorter one.

You cannot move your Prepay SIM (if you currently have one) to the Data card - but the number that comes with the data sim can be changed.

It's a fantastic combo (Data plan and POSTpay) especially using the phone as a modem - I'm sure everyone will go this way when they see how good it is.
Cheers!

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cafeg

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#117200 17-Mar-2008 18:19

Cool, thanks for that.
I was told the same by store staff and that it was voice blocked which is why I didn't get a data SIM..

Did you have to buy the Vodem as well or can you just get the data sim and at what startup cost ?

Steve ..

Axeman

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#117452 19-Mar-2008 07:09

Yes I had to buy the Vodem - which I now never use - but the only other option was a voice plan SIM with an added data plan.

I prefer what I have - the casual voice "postpay" + 3 Gig data plan - and I offset the bill by cancelling my Telecom home phone - so now 100% mobile yeeha!

Cheers!

richms

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#118418 24-Mar-2008 17:56

Can you change a normal 1 gig data only plan with no term to whatever a vodem sim gets you? I've gone data only in the N80 that I have being supplied to use because none of the youchoose plans are appealing, but casual 80c/min is something I could tollerate for the odd voicecall if needed and my prepays are out of credit. Sip over 3g doesnt work as well on the n80 as it did on a softphone on a pc with a pcmcia datacard so its not really an option.

Richard rich.ms